Loy Allen Now in Mark III Seat

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 22, 1998)

Loy Allen will take over as driver of the Mark III Motorsports NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division No. 78 Chevrolet, this week.

Allen succeeds Hank Parker Jr. who resigned last week after Parker and the Mark III team had trouble finding the right chemistry. "Sometimes you can't put your finger on the problem," said team owner Dan Browder. "We wish Hank the best and hope a change will be good for both of us."

Allen will pilot the Mark III entry for the Touchstone Energy 300 at Talladega this weekend in what is initially a one race deal.

"We're going to see how it goes this weekend and decide where we want to go from there," Browder said. "Loy is a capable and experienced driver. We probably could not have picked a better track to begin our relationship."

Allen, who has a good deal of NASCAR Winston Cup Series experience, won three Bud Pole Awards -- at Daytona, Michigan and Atlanta -- in his rookie season in 1994. He was the first rookie to win the pole for the Daytona 500. Allen has run a limited schedule of NASCAR Winston Cup Series races in each of the last three years.

"Loy is looking for a place to prove himself ," Browder said. "He has bounced around a little the past few years and really has not been given the chance he deserves. Given the right situation I believe he is capable of winning this weekend. I'm really impressed with his qualifying record in Winston Cup. Obviously he knows how to find the gas pedal."

Allen's last NASCAR Winston Cup Series start was last year in February at Rockingham for the GM Goodwrench Service 400. Allen made only his second NASCAR Busch Series appearance in October of last year at California Speedway driving the Randy Porter/Sammy Kershaw entry. Source: NASCAR Online